Pretzel forming apparatus



Aug. 17, 1937. H; s. GlPE PRETZEL FORMING APPARATUS '11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 9, 1935 IAHEQS'SES:

INVENTOR: HA EE/SO/V 5., G/PE- 1937. H. s. GIPE PRETZEL FORMING APP ARATUS 1955 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9,

. v m S 1 MMWM M \N ON 1 NW E mm m5 mm W! l J will I INVENTOR! I k m l TNESSES- HAZE/50M 5, G/PE ATTORNEY 11 Sheets-Sheet 4' H. S. GIPE PRETZEL FORMING APPARATUS Filed' Oct. 9. 1935 m I. if $3 m N.\\ .11..

Aug. 17, 1937.

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Aug. 17, 1937. H. s. GIPE PRETZEL FORMING APPARATUS Filed 001:. 9, 1935 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 1 Aug. 17, 1937. H S PE 2,090,291

PRETZEL FORMING APPARATUS Filed 001:. 9, 1955 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 A v VITNILSSES- g 75 INVENTOR:' /7 4EE/so/v 5, G/PE- Aug. 17, 1937. H. s. GIPE 2,090,291

PRETZEL FORMING APPARATUS Fild Oct. 9; 1935 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 Fiat 70 IN VEN TOR:

ATTORNEY H. S. GlPE PRETZEL FORMING APPARATUS Aug. 17, 1937.

Filed 001;. 9, 1935 11 Sheets- Sheet a 5 Z w 5 N ATTORNEY Aug. 17, 1937. H. s. GIPE PRETZEL FORMING APPARATUS RE mi g INVENTOR: HALE/50A! 5., 6/1 5 ATTORNEY Wl TNESS I Aug. 17, 1937. H. s. GIPE PRETZEL FORMING APPARATUS Filed 001:. 9, 1935 11 Sheets-Sheet ll W NESSES! Patented Aug. 17, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2,090,291 rns'rzsf. FORMING APPARATUS Harrison S. Gi pe, York, Pa., assignor to Quinlan Pretzel 00., Reading, Pa.

AppllcationOctober 9, 1935, Serial No. 44,216

20 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of pretzel forming machines, and is concerned primarily with a machine of that type illustrated and described in my copending application Serial No.

676,855, filed June 21, 1933, resulting in Patent No. 2,026,526.

This application is a continuation in part of the copending application above referred to.

In my copending application above referred to,

19 there is set up a continuously operating machine which is characterized by the uninterrupted movement of dough strips therethrough during the various rolling, cutting, forming and handling operations. Such a machine includes suitable instrumentalities for cutting of! individual pieces of dough and depositing the same at spaced intervals on an endless conveyor. Rolling mechanism then affects the pieces to roll the same out into elongated cylindrical strips. From the con- 20 veyor the strips are transferred to forming units,

there being devices interposed between the conveyor and the forming units which straighten out the strips and cut them to the proper length. A plurality of the forming units are mounted be- 25 tween a pair of spaced sprockets which are endless, which cause the units to travel in an endless path to pick up the strips and form the same into pretzel shape as they are carried along.

The machine also includes devices for taking 30 the pretzels from the forming unit after they have been completely shaped and arranging them on'boards in an orderly arrangement.

With the foregoing i mind, this invention has to do with the" provision of a forming unit of novel 30 construction intended to operate in a machine of the above noted type. cerned with those devices which handle the dough strips from the time they leave the endless conveyor until they are picked up by the forming units, and the invention is further concerned with mechanism included in the machine for causing proper operation of the forming units during their movement. 5 In a pretzel forming machine of the type above noted, which includes a large number of forming units, conditions of service inherently associated with the material being handled, namely, dough, very often arises in which the dough strip is not 50 either properly deposited on'the unit, in the first place, or for some other reason, is not properly handled by the forming mechanism of the unit. As the units make repeated trips around the path of travel, each time receiving an additional strip 55 of dough, it becomes entirely inoperative, and it The invention is also con- 7 (ca. 1.0'7-s) is necessary to stop the operation of the entire machine in order to clear out the clog of dough and correct the unserviceable conditions.

As each one of these machines includes a large number of units, which number may be in the neighborhood of thirty or more, it has been necessary to discontinue the operation of all the units in order to correct the unsatisfactory condition in only one of them. As a result, operating time forv all of the units is lost, and as it is very often necessary to shut downmany times during the day, at the end of a working period it is found that the manufacture of a large number of pretzels has been lost, due to this condition.

With this state of afi'airs in mind, this invenstrips to anyone of the units is discontinued, the

unsatisfactory(condition of the unit will, in nearly all cases, correct itself'by the continued movement and operation of the unit, if it is not impeded in such a corrective functioning by the feeding of additional strips thereto. Accordingly, I propose to avail of devices for transferring the dough strips from the endless conveyor to the forming units, and which devices include instrumentalities for diverting from any forming unit the strip of dough which would ordinarily be supplied thereto.

Cooperating with these instrumentalities is an operating member on each forming unit which.

may be moved into position at the will of the operator to render such interrupting instrumentalities efiective as occasion demands. Another important object of the invention is the provision of transferring devices of the type noted in the preceding paragraph, which alsoinelude mechanism for straightening out the dough strips and cutting the same to a proper length, a more particular feature of the invention residing in the provision of means for varying the length of the dough strips which emerge from the cutting mechanism. 7

Other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention are associated with the provision of interrupting instrumentalities in accordance with the above noted precepts in a practical working device.

-form the various pretzel-shaping functions.

A forming unit as above outlined ordinarily includes a twister yoke which, in the copending application referred to, is affected by cam means on the machine for causing twisting operations at the proper time. Inasmuch as the unit is moving and the cam. means has heretofore been stationary, the meeting of the twister yoke with this particular cam means has been accompanied by certain undesirable results. Accordingly, this invention has in view, as another important 'ob-. jective, the provision of mechanism for operating the twister yoke, and which mechanism includes parts movable with the unit upon initial engagement of the twister yoke therewith.

Still another object is to provide locking means for the twister yoke so that during the greater time of travel of the unit, the yoke is immovably locked in position. Cam means are associated with the yoke operating means above referred to, to render ineffective the locking means when the ,yoke is to be twisted.

The invention, therefore, comprises a pretzel forming machine including a forming unit of novel design, feeding devices for the forming unit, which feeding devices include means for interrupting the supply of dough strips to the forming unit, and novel mechanism for causing operation of the forming unit.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation looking from the front of one of the forming units made in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is another elevational showing of the unit shown in Figure 1, but looking'at the rear side thereof,

Figure 3 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 1,

' butshowing the unit with the twister yoke folded over,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the unit in the position shown in Figure 1, while I Figure 5 is a plan view of the unit in the position illustrated in Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a detail showing in front elevation of the pickup plate and associated structure,

Figure 7 is a detail perspective of one of the bars which is'used to mount the unit in the assembly,

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the operating part of the twister yoke and locking mechanism therefor; this view is also a detail,

Figure 9 is a perspective illustration bringing out in detail certain parts of the operating mechanism of the unit; this view is of the exploded type, showing the parts removed from one another, but in their relative positions,

Figure 10 is an end elevational showing of the forming unit with the twister yoke in its foldedup position, while Fi ure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10, but

with the twister yoke in its normal position, as

zel-forming ar-ms, one of the arms being shown in detail in Figure 14, which is a detail perspective of one of the forming arms,

Figure 15 is an individual showing of one of the dough strips in the position it assumes just after it is picked up by the forming unit, Figure 16 is -a view similar to Figure .15, but showing the strip of dough after it has been affected by the forming arms,

Figure 17 is a view similar to Figures 15 and 16, but showing the condition of the'dough after the twister has been turned,

Figure 18 shows a pretzel after it has been fully formed,

Figure 19 is a perspective illustration, largely diagrammatic, with most of the parts of the machine not shown; this view develops the operating instrumentalitiesa'nd cams which are included in the construction of the machine for causing operation of the forming units,

Figure 20 is an enlarged detail perspective ofthe cam mechanism which cooperate withthe locking device for the twister. v

Figure 21 is a plan view of the feeding devices which take the dough from the conveyor and transfer it to the forming unit; in this view, parts are broken away,and some parts removed to more clearly bring out the details of construction,

Figure 22 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in section of the feeding devices shown in Figure21; this view is taken with certain parts of the machine removed to more clearly bring out the manner of operation thereof,

Figure 23 is an enlarged detail showing in elevation one of the operating parts of the feeding devices,

Figure 24 is another enlarged detail illustration of a part of the driving mechanism for the feeding devices, I

Figure 25 is an enlarged detail plan view of the'mechanism for operating the twister, and 1 Figure 26 is a view in side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 25.

Figure 2'? is a plan view of the machine with the forming units removed. This view brings out the arrangement -of the cam instrumentalities which are carried by the framework of the machine and which cause operation of the forming units.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the apparatus of this invention comprises generally a forming unit, feeding devices, and mechanisms for operating the forming unit;

' The forming unit A unit made in accordance with this invention comprises a plate H) which constitutes the. main body of the unit. This plate comprises sidepieces II and I2 which are connected into a unitary structure by bars i3 and M, which preferably are formed integrally with the side pieces. The bar I3 is disposed at the top of the unit, while the bar I4 is at the bottom. Attention is called to the fact that the main body portions of the bars I! and II are disposed in a plane which is offset 40 cuate flanges 25 and a top flange 26.

. from that of the side pieces andl2. This arr rangement provides a space intermediate the side plates in which the instrumentalities performing the various bending functions are located.

Referring to Figure 2, which develops a rear view of the plates H and 2, these plates are shown as formed with edge flanges |5 which ex tend entirely around each side plate and central flanges I6. This flange construction lends rigidity and strength, without unnecessary weight in the main body member of the unit. These flanges also readily adapt themselves to having other parts connected thereto.

Connected to the side plates I and I 2, along the upper edges thereof, are top plates I! which may be aflixed to their respective side plates by the medium of screw members I8 which extend through the top flanges I5. These top plates l1 are formed with spaced fingers l9, whichcooperate with similar fingers on a pickup plate, about to be described. This pickup plate, which is referred toas 20, is formed with guiding ribs 2| which are received in grooves 22 which are 25 plates H and I2.

pickup fingers extending substantially entirely across the 'unit. The ribs 2| are at their rear ends formed with end fianges 24 which constitute abutments to limit movement of the pickup plate with respect to the main body of the unit.

Still referring to Figures 6 and 9, the pickup plate 29 is formed on itsfront face with side ar- These flanges may be integral with the plate, and constitute the structure around which a dough strip is bent as it is being formed. It is noted that the extremities of the top flange 29 are spaced 5 from the adjacent endsof the side flanges 25, and

the pickup plate 20 is formed with openings extending therethrough at the spaces.

These openings continue through the plate 20 to the rear thereof, where they are prolonged by 50 cylindrical extensions 21 which are preferably integral with the plate 20, and these openings receive plungers 28 formed with paster heads 29 which are of slightly greater diameter than the plungers 28 to provide circular flanges to engage 5 the front face of the pickup plate 29.

A shaft 9 has suitable bearing in the structure l3 and has'upstanding therefrom lugs 8 designed for engagement with the plungers 28. At one end the shaft 9 has drivably connected thereto an 60 arm I having cam engaging means in the form of a roller 6. A spring 5 normally maintains the lugs 8 in position in which they engage the structure l3. They are moved forward by rotation of the shaft 9 against the influence of the 65 spring 5.

Just above the openings which receive the plungers 28 the central pickup fingers 23 are provided with openings 39 which receive the ejecting pins 3|. Adjacent to the side flanges 25 the 70 plate 20 is formed with additional openings corresponding to 'the openings 30, and theseopenings receive pins 32' shown more particularly in Figure 9. Attached to the pins 32 on the front face of the plate 20 are arcuate ejecting plates 33 that cor- 7 respond in curvature to the flanges 25, these formed on the inner flanged edges ofthe side plates 33 fitting snugly about the flanges 25, as clearly shown in Figure 6.

Referring now again to Figure 9, the ejecting pins 3| and ejecting plates 33' are connected at the rear of the pickup plate 29 to a spider 34 which is formed at itsrear extremities with cars 35 having openings which receive pivotal pins 36 carried by arms 31 that are non-rotatably connected to a sleeve 33, as by means of the clamping arrangement shownat 39.

The sleeve 38 finds bearing in a bossed forma- I tion 40, as shown in Figure 2, which bossed formation is an enlargement of the inner side flanges I5, and. this sleeve 38 also is rotatably mounted in the tubular extension 4| extending from one side of the plate |2. At the extremity of the sleeve 38 an arm 42 is positively clamped thereto, as indicated at 43. At its upper end this arm 42 is provided with cam engaging means, shown in the form of a roller 44.

It is evident that when the roller 44 is affected by cam means, to be later described, the sleeve 38 will be rotated to cause a corresponding swinging of the arms 31, whereby the spider structure 34 is moved to cause a corresponding movement of ejecting pins 3| and ejecting plates 33. It is to the end of properly guiding its movement of the spider 34 relative to the pickup plate 20 that the latter is provided with a. rearwardly extending pin45, shown in Figures 2 and 9, which n is received in an opening formed centrally of the spider 34 and which opening is continued through a cylindrical extension 46.

It is also notable that the openings which receive the pins 36 are somewhat elongated and non-circular in formation, as shown at 41; this is to accommodate the combination of rotative and rectilinear movements of the arms 31 and the spider 34, respectively.

Referring now to Figure 2, the anns. 3! are integrally connected by a bar 48 which is offset from the sleeve 38. A spring shown at 49 has one end bearing againstthe bar 48 to normally maintain the'ejecting plates 33 in engagement with the pickup plate 20. This spring 49 is coiled about a shaft 59 which extends through the sleeve 39, the shaft having bearing in the sleeve 38, an enlargement 5| of the inner side flange- |5 of 'theside plate ii, and a side extension 52 which extends from the outer side flange i5 of the side plate H. An arm 53 is drivably connected to the shaft 59, and has a crank arm 54 extending over the extension 52. At its extremity the crank arm 54ca1rries cam engaging means in the form of. a roller- 55. A spring 56 is coiled about the shaft and has one end attached to a pin 51 on the arm 53, while its other end engages the flange IS on the side plate ll.

Referring now again to Figure 9, the shaft 50 has positively clamped thereon a U-shaped structure designated 58, which structure includes a pair of slotted ears 59. Links 69 ar connected to the slotted ears 59 by pins 6|, and at their other ends are' connected to slotted lugs 62 on the rear face of the pickup plate 29.

, It is evident that the connections of the links 56 is effective to normially maintain the front face of the pickup plate '20' substantially flush with the front faces of the side plates H and I2.

Pivoted between the side plates II and I2 and below the 'pickup plate 29 is a twister yoke 63 which comprises side parts 64 connected by a bottom part 65. The upper edges of the side parts 66 are enlarged, as shown at 66 in Figure 12. These enlargements 66 receive sleeves 61 and 66 which constitute a pivotal mounting for the twister yoke 63 as an entirety. The sleeve 61 extends through an ear 69 on the inner side flange I5 of the side plate I2, and also is formed through a part of the extension 6I having bearing in these parts. f

At itsextremity the sleeve 61 drivably carries a spider designated generally as 16, which consists of a pair of normally horizontally extending arms H and an upstanding arm 12. The

extremities in the arms .1I carry cam engaging means in the form of rollers 13, while the arm 12 carries similar cam engaging means in the form of a roller 16, but which roller lies in a plane spaced from that in which the rollers 13 lie, this spaced arrangement being provided for by a. crank arm 15 which maintains the roller 16 offset from the arm 12.

At the other side.of the twister yoke 63 the .sleeve 68 passes through enlargements similar to the ear 69 in-the respective side flanges.

Referring to Figure 12, the sleeves 61 and 66 are shown as carrying toggle connections comprising arms 16, which are drivably connected to the respective sleeves. The arms 16 have pivotally connected to their free ends arms 11 that are in turn pivotally connected at 16 to slides 16. These slides 19 are of a channel bar construction, providing channels 66 which receive guides 8| which are carried on the front face by the side plates II and I2. The slides are maintained spaced from the front face 'of the main body plate by the guide 6|, and these slides constitute the integral extremities of a frame 40 tially opposite to the pickup plate 26, but spaced therefrom.

From the foregoing, it is evident that the sleeves 61 and 66 provide for the simultaneous movements of the twister yoke 63 and frame 62, that is, when the twister yoke 63 is folded on rocated in the guides 6|.

the sleeves as a fulcrum, the frame." is recip- The side parts 66 of the twister yoke 63 are cut away, as indicated at. 66, to accommodate forming members about to 7 be described.

On its rear face one of the side parts 66 has a bell crank 65 pivotally mounted thereon, as shown at 66. The bell crank 65 has an upstanding arm 61 that is pivotally connected at 66 to a shaft 69 which extends through the sleeve 66.

At its extremity the shaft 69 carries a rack 96' which cooperates with a toothed segment 9i that is pivotally mounted at 92 between spaced plates 93 carried by the extension 52. One end of the segment 9I carries cam engaging means in the form of a roller 96. It is apparent that'when the roller 96 is affected by a cam to cause pivoting thereof on the mounting 92, it will cause 5 crank 85.

movement of the shaft 69 to turn the bell This bell crank has a second arm 95 which is provided with a groove 96 on its front face, which receives a pin 91 on aT-shaped member 96' that constitutes a part of the forming apparatus carried by a twister 99. The twister 99 is spaced from these edges is formed with arcuate sleeves I 2 I.

slots I62 which are concentric with respect to the arcs defining the upper edges I6I. The twister is also formed with small somewhat vertically extending arcuate slots I63.

Pivotally mounted on the rear face of the twister 99 are a pair of bell cranks, referred to in their entirety by the referencexcharacter I 66 which bell cranks have long arms I65 and short arms I66. These bell cranks I66 are pivotally mounted on pins I61 about which are wound coiled springs I66 which normally affect the bell cranks I66 and cause the long arms I65 thereof to be drawn towards one another. The arms I65 carry pins I69 which extend into and are movable in the arcuate slots I62 and at their extremities the arms I65 carry offset forming plates II6, these plates being maintained offset from the arms I65 by pins III. The short arms I66 of the bell crank carry pins I I2 whichextend into and are movable in the arcuate slots I63.

Intermediate the upper edges IM and the arcuate slots I 62 the twister 99 is formed with an angularly shaped enlargement H3 which up-' stands from the front face of the twister. This upstanding part has inclined side surfaces which are designed for cooperation with the forming plates H6 in shaping the dough strips.

Extending rearwardly from the short arms I66 are pins I I6 which are received in elongated slots H5 in the head of the ff-shaped member 96. This T-shaped member ha's a stem II6 that is received in a cylindrical opening in an enlargement II1 integrally formed on the rear face of the twister 99.

A spring H6 is carried on the rear face of the twister yoke 63 and affects the arm 61 of the bell crank to normally maintain the long arms I65 of the bell crank I66 in their contracted relalation, this beingcarried out through the medium of the connections comprising the arm 95 the enlargement II3. This shaft I66 carries'a pair of spaced disks I26 which aremaintained spaced apart by sleeves I2I, screw members I22 extending through the disks and the sleeves. In the illustrated embodiment I have shown the use of four of these sleeves, which are spaced apart Pivoted to the underface of .the

bottom part 65 is a locking member I23 which is pivoted .at I26 and is formed with a recess I25, which is designed to receive one of the Outstanding from .the end of the locking member I23 adjacent to the recess I25 is an arm I26 which carries cam engaging means in the form of a roller I21.

A spring I26 is. shown in Figure 8 as mounted on the bottom face of the twister yoke 63, and

this spring affects the locking member I23 to maintain the same in locking engagement with one of the sleeves I2I. It is evident that the roller I21 may be affected by cam. means to swing the locking member I23 out of locking engagement, whereupon thedisksl26 may be turned by engagement of other cam means with the sleeves I2l to cause turning of the twister 99.

' In order .to provide for movement of the pickup plate 20 with respect to the main body unit, coincident to certain swinging movement of the twister yoke 63, the sleeve 61 carries adjacent to the spider 10 a cam I29 which cooperates with an arm I36 which is drivably connected to the shaft 56. When the spider 10 is turned sufiiciently far, this cam I29 engages the arm I30 to cause rotation of the latter.

Secured to the top plate I1 which is carried by the side plate I2 is an arm I3I which is pivotally mounted, as indicated at I32, and which has a turned-over extremity I33 designed for. engagement with certain instrumentalities in the feeding devices.

Referring now to Figure 7, there is illustrated one of the bars which are used to incorporate one of these forming units in the sprocket assembly in the machine. One of these bars is designated I34 and is bifurcated at one end, as shown at I35, and this bifurcated end is provided with an opening, as shown at I36.

The other end of the bar has an ofiset portion I31 shown with a U-shaped extremity I38, which is intended to cooperate with the next adjacent bar to provide the sprocket chain assembly. Fastening members pass through the openings I39 and corresponding openings I40 in the plate structure of the unit, as shown in Figures 10 and 11.

The manner in which the operations of the above noted mechanisms are interrelated will. be described in connection with the description of the cam mechanisms which cause their operations.

Feeding devices By reference to the copending application above identified, it will be noted that dough strips are supplied in spaced relation by an endless conveyor, a portion of which is illustrated in Figure 22 and designated MI. The feeding devices hereinafter described take the strips from this conveyor and position them at a point where they are picked up by the forming units. The feeding devices are mounted on the framework of I45 in close proximity to the surface of the end- I less conveyor I4I so as to pick those strips thereis non-rotatably carried by a shaft I5I.

from. This chute I44 is mounted between the side plates I43 and at its lower edge has hingedly connected thereto, as indicated at I46, a shutter I41.

When the shutter is in the position as shown in Figure 22, it constitutes a continuation of the chute. The chute I41 has at each end an ear I48 to which is pivotally connected a link I49 that is in turn pivotally connected to an arm I50 that ,This shaft I5I has proper bearing in the framework I42 of the machine. A lever, which is shown as broken away in Figure 22, is referred to as I 52 and this lever is also drivably connected to the shaft I5I.

At its upper end the lever I52 has pivotally mounted thereon a pawl I53 which is designed for cooperation with a tapered end I54 of a lever I55, notched as shown at 15's. This lever 15s is pivotally mounted at I51 on a bracket I58, and at its free end carries a weight I59 which normally maintains the tapered end of the lever I a continuation of the chute I44.

in an upraised position. A set screw shown at I69 limits movement of the weighted end of the lever I55.

Electromagnets I6I are disposed beneath the lever I55 at the side opposite the weight, and are efiective, when current is passing therethrough, to draw this end of the lever downwardly against the influence of the weight I59. The electric circuit for the electromagnets I6I is shown at I62, and includes a main switch I63 and a mechanically operated switch at I64.

This mechanically operated switch I 64 comprises a stationary contact I65 and a movable contact I66 which is operated by a spring arm I61; the latter is'afiected by the turned-over end I33 on the arm I3I on the forming unit to close the circuit, whereby the electromagnetic devices are rendered effective.

The lower end' of the lever I52 carries a headed pin I68 which is received in the bifurcated end of a link I69 (see Figure 23). A coil spring I10 has one end anchored to the link I69 and its other end to the pin I68. This spring provides a yielding connection between the link I69 and The link I69 extends to a drive the lever I52. shaft I1I to which it is operatively connected by a hub I12, the crank-like connection being obtained by pivotally connecting the link I69 to the hub I12 oif the center of the shaft "I, as shown at I13. It is evident that rotation of the shaft I1I causes reciprocation of the link I69 which will in turn cause swinging of the lever I52 in a manner to be, hereafter described.

It is noted that the shaft I1I carries a driving gear I14 which is connected by a sprocketchain (not shown) to a hand crank shaft of the machine. The rotation of the shaft I1I is so synchronized with the operation of the machine that it makes one complete revolution for each passage of the forming unit past the switch at I64.

When the shutter I41 is swung downwardly,

'the passage of the dough strips to the forming units is interrupted for in this position the dough strips are delivered to-a conveyor (not shown) which takes them back to the source ofv the dough supply. In order for the strips to be delivered to the forming unit, the shutter must be in the position shown at I41, in which it constitutes The above described instrumentalitiesare effective to so position the shutter when the arm I3I on the forming unit engages the operating spring arm I61 to close the contacts I65 and I66,

whereby the circuit is completed. Under this condition, the electromagnets I6I draw the lever I55 downwardly, whereupon the notch I56 is disengaged from the pawl I53 so as to permit swinging of the lever I52, which in turn rotates the shaft I5I to raise the shutter I41 into the illustrated position. In the event the arm I3I is swung outwardlyso that it will not engage the unitis the same as the time it takes the forming unit to pass from the position in which the arm I3I engages the spring arm I61 to that point where it picks up the strip. When the arm I3I is not swung outwardly, as will be the ease during normal operation, it engages the spring arm I61 to close the circuit and move theshutter I41 upwardly into delivering position. In this latter position a strip of dough will cross the shutter and later be picked up by one of the forming units.

From the shutter I41 the dough strips pass onto and across a plate I15 which is carried by the side plates I43. In crossing the shutter I41 it has been straightened out by a baffle I18 which is movable with the shutter as it is carried by the shaft I5I.

From the plates I15 the dough strip falls down in front of a pusher I11, the dough strip being positioned on a shelf I18 carried between side platesl43. A baflle I19 is pivotally mounted at I 80 and is normally maintained in a substantially vertical position, as shown in Figure 22, by a weight I8I which is carried by an arm I82 extending rearwardly from the pivotal mounting of the bailie. Abutment means, indicated at I83, are interposed between the weight I8I and a part of the frame of the machine I42 to limit movement of the baffle I19.

A lever I84 extends downwardly from the pivotal mounting I80 of the bailie I19, and its lower end is spaced sufficiently far from the baffle for a strip of dough to be positioned between the lever .and the baffle. This lever is adapted for engagement with the pusher I11 so asto cause a swinging of the baffle against the influence of the weight I8I.

r The pusher I11 is pivotally connected to a link I85 which is in turn pivotally connected to an arm I86 that is drivably connected to a shaft I81. Another arm I88 depends from the shaft I81 and is pivotally connected to a link I89. This link I89 carries at its free end a fork member I90 (see Figures 24 and 25). The prongs of this member I90 extend over the shaft HI and a cam I9I is drivably connected to the shaft HI and engages sometimes against the influence of the spring As above pointed out, the rotation of the shaft "I is so timed with the remainder of the structure of the pretzel machine, as to provide for one rotation of the shaft for the passage of each unit past any given point.

The operation of the pusher is thereby synchroniz'ed with the movement of the shutter I41,

and the travel of the units in their orbital movement.

From the shelf I18 the dough is pushed by the pusher onto a roller I95 which is carried by a shaft I88 mounted in the side plates I43. This roller is of a sectional construction, as shown in Figure 21,,to provide for adjustability in its length. Disk cutters I91 cooperate with the roller I95 to cut the strips to the exact length of the roller. These cutters are spaced apart, as shown at Figure 21, and are slidably mounted on a shaft I98 and are yieldably urged against the extremities of the roller I by springs I99. The extremities of the shafts I96 and I98 carry pinions 200 and 2 33 which are in mesh, so as to properly time the rotation of these disk cutters and the roller I95. The shaft 200 is driven from the driving source of the main machine, as disclosed in the has been cut to the proper length. The strips fall down along the plate 208 onto the magazine fingers 202.

Mechanisms for operating the forming unit The cam instrumentalities carried by the main table and which cause the operation of the forming unit, are very much the same as those set forth in the said copending application. However, I have departed from the arrangement set forth therein in certain instances as will hereinafter be described. The arrangement of these instrumentalities are shown diagrammatically in Figure 19.

Just prior to that point at which the forming unit picks up the strip of dough from the magazine fingers 202, a cam surface on a cam member 206, which is carried by the frame of the machine, engages the roller 94 to cause the arms I05 of the bellcranks I04 to spread apart so that when the ends of the dough'strip fall about the flanges 25 and hang down therefrom, they will be received between the forming plates 54.

During that time in which the strips fall down, the roller 94 rides along the straight surface 201 of the cam 208, and then off the inclined edge- 208. This riding off the cam 208 causes the arms I05 to contract under the influence of the spring I I8 to bend inwardly the lower ends of the strip, that is, it bends into the formation shown in Figure 16; prior to being affected by the forming plate 64 the dough strip is in U-formation, shown in Figure 15.

During this time the arms H of the spider 10 have been maintained in a substantially horizontal position by a riding of the rollers 13 along the guide rail shown at 209. After the roller 94 leaves the cam 205, the disks I20 and associated locking mechanism, are affected by a rack, designated generally by the reference character A' in Figure 19, and a cam 2 I1, to cause the twister 99 to make a complete revolution to twist the dough strip into the position shown in Figure 17. The rack mechanism A comprises a slide 2I0 which is slidably mounted in brack'ets'2II and upraised from the slide are a series of rack teeth 2I2. These teeth are so designed that each of them will engage with one of the sleeves I2I of the disk members as they pass thereby.

A link 2I8 is connected at 2 to the slide H0 and at 2I5 to a hub member 2I6 that is carried by the shaft III, the connection 2I8 being eccentric to the center 'of the shaft "I. This eccentric connection provides for reciprocation of the slide coincident to rotation of the shaft.

As before pointed out, rotation'of the shaft I1! is timed with the mechanism causing movement of the units so that it makes one complete revolution for the passage of each .unit past a given point, hence, the slide 2) will go through one complete cycle of reciprocation for each unit that passes thereby.

The rack 2I2 is so disposed that upon initial engagement of the first tooth thereof with one of the sleeves I2I of the disks I20, it will moving in the same direction as that in which the unit moves However, movement of the rack is then quickly reversed to cause a substantially complete turning of the twister, whereupon the rack again moves in the same direction as the unit so that as the last sleeve I2I leaves the last tooth, it is again moving in the same direction as that in which the unit moves. This arrangement has been found to be very satisfactory in that substantially no jars or shocks are imparted to the unit by engagement with the disks I20 with the rack. In order to unlock the disks I20 so thatthe twister may be rotated, a, cam 2 l1 having inclined cam surfaces 2l8 and 2I9 is availed of. This cam 2II is mounted on the frame of the machine, and

prior to that point where one of the sleeves I2I will engage the first tooth 2I2, the surface 2! affects the roller l2'I to swing the locking arm I23 outwardly out of engagement with the sleeve I2I which had been received in the recess I25. The roller I2'I rides along the cam 2I'I during the turning of the twister 99. It then rides off the surface 2 IQ whereupon the spring I28 moves the locking arm I23 into locking position. To insure of this locking operation taking place at exactly the right moment, I avail of a cam 220 which supplements the functions of the cam 2l9 and spring I28. This cam 220 is preferably pivotally mounted, as shown at HI, and is provided with a spring 222, which pivotal mounting and the spring arrangement, permits of a slight amount of play.

When the twister has been completely turned and locked in its turned position, the roller I4- on the long arm I5 of the spider Ill engages the cam surface 223 of the cam assembly, which is designated generally as'B, this cam assembly beingsubstantially the same as that illustrated and 40 described in the said copending application.

The engagement of the roller I4 with the cam surface 223 depresses the arm 12 tocause a partial turning of the spider and the sleeve 61, together with the parts connected thereto, whereupon one of the rollers I3 engages the cam surface 224, the latter being effective to completely fold over ,the twister yoke 63. The last part of the turning of the yoke 63 into the position shown in Figure 3 is accompanied by an engagement of the cam I29 with the arm I30 (Figure 4) to cause the pick-up plate 20- to move a slight distance rearwardly from the front surface of the main body plate of the unit. This provides for space between the pick-up plate and the twister yoke to receive the strip of dough forming the pretzel.

At this time-the roller 6 engages with the cam surface 225 on'the cam 226 to cause operation ofthe pasters. This causes the paster heads 29 to flatten outthe extremities of the dough strips, as shown at 221 in Figure 18, which develops the pretzel in'its completely formed condition. The roller 6 now rides down off the cam 226 whereupon" the spring 5 returns the lugs 8 to their normal position. The rollers I3 now ride off cam surface 228 and the roller 14 off the cam surfaces at 229 to fold the twister yoke 63 back to its nor-- a1 position in which the fingers 83 are spaced From the pick-up plate 20 in front thereof;

At this point the roller 55 engages the cam sur- 70 face 230 of the cam 23I to retract the pick-up plate 20. Further movement of the roller 55 along the cam 23I causes the same to roll off. the surface232 whereupon the pick-up plate resumes its normal position.- During this movement the 7 roller I4 on the long arm "I2 of the spider I0 rides beneath the guide 233 and the forming'units now begin to turn over to their downward path of travel. At this point the roller 44 engages a cam 234 to cause operation of the ejecting plates and pins, whereupon the formed pretzel is pushed off the flanges 25. I I I As the pretzel is ejected from the pick-up plate and flange 25, it is received by the receiving fingers 83. These are now advanced by the turning of the spider 10, which is caused by engagement of the roller 14 of the arm I2 in the cam slot shown at 235. When the fingers 83 are in their extended position, a flipper picks the formed pretzel therefrom in a manner described in the said copending application. 'The spider is then rotated to return the twister yoke to its normal position, whereupon the cycle is again repeated.

By reference to the preceding application it is noted that a plurality of these units are employed andare caused to travel in an orbital path by there being assembled in an endless sprocket arrangement in the complete machine.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact constructions and mechanisms illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be made "in putting the invention into practice, within the purview of the appended claims.

1. In a pretzel forming machine including a plurality of forming units, feeding devices for supplying dough strips to'the forming units, said devices comprising a chute along which dough strips are adapted to pass, mechanism for diverting dough strips from the chute, and means for automatically rendering said diverting means inoperative whereby dough strips are delivered along the chute, said means including an essential element on each of the forming units.

2. In a pretzel forming machine including a plurality of forming units and a source of supply of dough strips, feeding devices for transferring dough strips from the source of supply to the forming unit independently, comprising a chute along which the strips are adapted to pass,

I means for diverting dough strips from the chute, and mechanism for rendering said diverting means inoperative, said mechanism including parts on the forming units which may be operated at the will of. the operator of the machine to render said mechanism effective or not as oocasion demands.

I I 3. In a pretzel forming machine including a plurality of forming units and a source of supply of strips of dough, feeding devices for conveying strips of dough froma source. of supply to the forming units individually comprising 60 a chute, a pusher cooperating with the chute, a shutter included in the chute and operableto divert dough strips from the forming units, me-, chanical means for operating the shutter, and ;mechanical means for operating the pusher, mechanism whereby both the operations of said last mentioned mechanical means'are interrelated whereby operation of the shutter and pusher are synchronized. I I

4. In a pretzel forming machine including a plurality of pretzel forming units, feeding devices for controlling the delivery of dough strips to the forming units including a shutter, mechanical means for operating the shutter, electrical mechanism for controlling operation of the mechanical 75 pivotal relation to the pickup plate, means for causing swinging movement of the twister yoke,

10 and means for causing movement of the pickup plate with respect to the main bodyunit, both said last mentioned means including cooperating parts whereby swinging movement of the twister yoke causes movement ofv the pickup plate.

. i5 6. In a pretzel forming machine, a forming unit comprising a main body member, a twister yoke pivotally mounted in the body member, a

, twister pivotally mounted in the twister woke,

' means for causing twisting operation of the twister, means for positively locking the twister against twisting movement, yieldable means for holding said locking means in effective position,

v -and a cam for moving the locking means into unlocking position against the influence oi! the yieldable means."

7. In a pretzel forming machine, a forming unit comprising a main body member, a twister yoke pivotally; mounted in the body member, a twister pivotally mounted, in the twister yoke,

, means for causing twisting operation of the twister, means for positively locking the twister against twisting movement, and cam means to render inoperative the said locking means whereby the twisting movement of the-twister is permitted. 8. In a pretzel forming machine and in combination, a movable pretzel forming unit having I a twister and operating means for the twister, of

mechanism for causing operation of said ope'rating means, said mechanism including a rack 40 movable at certain times with the forming unit,

said rack being movable at other times in a direction opposite to that in which the unit moves to effect twisting operations.

9. In a pretzel forming machine, the combination with a pretzel forming unit movable in the machine and including a twister, of a reciprocating rack for causing operation of the twister, the reciprocation of said rack being in a direction parallel to the path of movement of the forming unit.

10. In a pretzel forming machine, the combination with a pretzel forming unit movable in the machine and including a twister, of a reciprocating rack for causing operation oi! the twister, locking'mechanism included in the forming unit for locking the twister against twisting forming unit comprising a main bodyImember, a pickup plate movable with respect to the body member, a twister yoke hingedly mounted in the body member and pivoted with respect to the pickup plate, a twister in the twister yoke, form- 12. In a pretzel forming *machine, a pretzeling arms in the twister, pretzel ejecting means associated with the pickup plate, means for causing movement of the pickup plate, and means for causing operation of the ejecting means, both said operating means being interrelated.

13, In a pretzel forming machine, a pretzel forming unit comprising a main body member,

a pickup plate movable with respect to the body member, a twister yoke hingedly mounted in the body member and pivoted with respect to the pickup plate, paster members in the pickup plate, operating means for causing swinging movement of the twister yoke, operating means for causing movement of the pickup plate, said last mentioned operating means being operable independently of movement oi the twister yoke, and an operative connection between the operating means for the twister yoke and the pickup plate.

14. In a pretzel forming machine, a pretzel .forming unit comprising a main body member, a

, gers.

15. A pretzel forming unit of the character described, comprising a main body member, means for including the main body member in a pretzel forming machine in an inclined position, a pickup plate, a twister yoke, a twister in the twister yoke, forming arms pivotally carried by the twister, yielding means for maintaining said forming arms in a "contracted position, and means for spreading the arms to permit the positioning of the extremities of a dough strip therebetween.

16. A pretzel forming unit of the character described, comprising a pickup plate, a twister yoke, a twister in the twister yoke, forming arms carried by the twister, yielding means normally maintaining the forming arms in a contracted position, and operating means associated with the arms for spreading them apart against the influence of the yielding means.

1'7. {A pretzel forming machine of the character described, comprising a main body member, a pickup plate movable with respect to the body member, a twister yoke hingedly mounted in the body. member, a twister pivotally mounted in the twister yoke, forming arms carried by the. twister, individual operating means causing individual operation of the pickup plate, twister yoke, twister and forming arms, respectively, pasters in the pickup plate, operating means for the pasters,

and cam means carried by the forming unit for discontinuing the supply or dough strips thereto, said cam means being movable into and out of operative position.

18. A pretzel forming unit comprising a main body member carrying a plurality of pretzel forming mechanisms, and a cam member carried by the body member and movable into and out of operative position, said cam member being adapted to affect feeding instrumentalities to cause a dough strip to be delivered to the forming unit.

19. In a pretzel forming machine, the combination with a plurality of forming units, and feeding means for delivering strips of dough individually to the said units, of mechanism for rendering said feeding means effective to deliver the .sup'biy to the forming units individually, a cam member carried'by each of said torming units,

dough strips to the moi-min: units, said'mecha.- nism comprising a member carried by each of the forming units and a second member engageable therewith to render said feeding means eflective,

20. In a pretzel-forming machine, a source of supply of dough strips, a plurality of forming units in spaced relation. feeding devices for transferring strips of dough from the source 01' and a secondmember engageable' by said .cam member to automatically render theefeeding devices eilective for each unit, the cam member of which en es saidsecond member, each of said cam members being selectively movable into a position in which it does not engage the second member whereby the feeding devices are automatically rendered ineffective so far as the particular forming unit carrying the said cam memher is concerned.

' HARRISON S. GIPE. 

